Cornus plant named ‘Melanie’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cornus  plant named ‘Melanie’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; and white and green variegated leaves with red-colored apices; leaves becoming red in color in the autumn.

Botanical designation: Cornus kousa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MELANIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cornus plant, commercially produced as an ornamental shrub, botanically known as Cornus kousa and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Melanie’.

The new Cornus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Wernhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Cornus plants with improved growth habit and unique leaf coloration.

The new Cornus plant originated from an open-pollination in 2003 of an unnamed selection of Cornus kousa, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Cornus kousa. The new Cornus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Wernhout, The Netherlands in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cornus plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Lottum, The Netherlands since 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Cornus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cornus have not been observed under all possible conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Melanie’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Melanie’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Cornus plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. White and green variegated leaves with red-colored apices;         leaves becoming red in color in the autumn.

Plants of the new Cornus differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection have green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Cornus can also be compared to plants of Cornus kousa ‘Snowboy’, not patented. Plants of the new Cornus differ from plants of ‘Snowboy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cornus are taller than plants of ‘Snowboy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Cornus are stronger and more durable than         plants of ‘Snowboy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cornus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cornus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Melanie’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Melanie’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Melanie’ with fall coloration.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in three-liter containers in Lottum, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranged from 1° C. to 15° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cornus kousa ‘Melanie’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Cornus kousa,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Cornus kousa,             not patented. -   Plant description:     -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to black in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Plant form/habit.—Upright deciduous shrub; somewhat             outwardly spreading form; freely branching habit, about 39             lateral branches per plant; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 85 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 43.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16.9 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 4.3 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing stems: Close to             187A to 187B. Color, fully developed stems: Close to 195A             becoming closer to 199B to 199D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate or obovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Rounded to short attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Center, close to             147B; towards the margins, close to N155B or 69B to 69C;             towards the apex, close to 58A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Center, close to 191B; towards the margins, close             to N155B or 69D; towards the apex, close to 58B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Center, between 189A and             191A with scattered random blotches, close to 192A to 192B;             towards the margins, close to 155A to 157D; towards the             apex, close to 58A; venation, close to 193A. During the             autumn, center color becomes closer to 178A to 183A to 183B             and towards the margins and apex, close to 181A to 184C.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Center, close to 191A             to 191B; towards the margins, close to 155A; towards the             apex, close to 58B; venation, close to 194A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Cornus. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Cornus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cornus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Cornus have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 6. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cornus plant named ‘Melanie’ as illustrated and described. 